5 Fiction Books the Staff has Fallen in Love with this Year

5 Fiction Books the Staff has Fallen in Love with this Year
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5 Fiction Books the Staff has Fallen in Love with this Year

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Today I’m sharing 5 fiction books the staff has fallen in love with this year. You will see the book, name of the author followed by the staffer recommending the book. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and add a few books to your to-read list today. If you have a recent fiction favorite, share it in the comment section. We are always on the lookout for good books.

Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas by Dianne Moody / Page Hughes

If you have ever fallen “in love” with a teenage pop star and wondered what it would be like to truly know him and maybe even date him, this will be a fun and fulfilling read for you. I went into it thinking Dianne had had another Elvis sighting, but instead she takes the reader on a marvelous twisting and turning journey through the life of a young college student who falls into her own fairy-tale love story. This one will have you thinking back to when you were in love with a boy band and all of the fun you just knew you could have. Great read with characters you will fall in love with.

At Home in Mitford

At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Years) by Jan Karon / Vicki Huffman

Yes, it is an older series published in the 90s and now out in several anniversary versions. But I was so busy in the 90s being an editor, which entailed reading so much for my job, that I missed about a decade of reading for pleasure. I always meant to read Mitford and now I am. I’ve finished the first and am on to the second Father Tim story. I love the voice of the writer, the attention to detail, the charm of the little North Carolina town, and the grace of the Episcopal priest tending faithfully to his small flock. It’s a place where everyone knows everyone and yet most manage to love (and/or tolerate) their fellow townspeople fairly well. Although set in contemporary times, it has the feeling of a throwback to a calmer, kinder time. Its Christian messages interspersed within are often profound and handled with a gentle, deft touch. This non-preachy approach no doubt helped the series become a bestseller even among non-Christians.

Lila: A Novel

Lila: A Novel by Marilyn Robinson / Sarah Parham

I have read and loved Lila: A Novel by Marilyn Robinson, who is easily my favorite author.  This novel is the third story focusing on the spiritual happenings in the lives of the loved ones of John Amos.  The story is told from the perspective of a deeply impoverished woman named Lila.  I have been asking myself the question lately, “What is the good news to the poor?”  Is it daily bread?  Is it the ethereal bread of life, Jesus?  How can we be faithful in serving the poor?  This book, in a dramatic and compelling way, answered my questions.  And just as a teaser, I will never look at the book of Ezekiel the same way again.

Words Unspoken

Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser / Kellie Renfroe

Filled with mystery and intrigue, Musser weaves her storytelling magic in this modern-day story of loss, forgiveness, hope, and redemption.  Lissa Randall is a young woman who suffers great loss in an automobile accident and seeks out the help of driving instructor Ev McAllister to overcome her fears. Both characters are marred by life’s hardships and it is God’s perfect timing to use each for healing. The spiritual mentoring that develops between Ev and his student, Lissa, is a reminder to all to be open to the Lord’s leading.

The Creole Princess

The Creole Princess: A Novel (Gulf Coast Chronicles) (Volume 2) by Elizabeth White / Page Hughes

Do you enjoy historical novels? If so, this may be the read for you. Beth White sets her novel in the 1700s in Mobile Alabama. The Creole Princess: A Novel (Gulf Coast Chronicles) (Volume 2) is the second in the Gulf Coast Chronicles series. The Pelican Bride: A Novel (Gulf Coast Chronicles) (Volume 1) was the first in the series and it introduced you to the Lanier family who helped to settle Mobile, Alabama. The Creole Princess: A Novel (Gulf Coast Chronicles) (Volume 2) picks up the story a couple of generations later when the French, British, and Spaniards were finding a balance of power in the area. It is rich with intrigue as a young Spaniard comes to Mobile under the guise of business to report information about the fort located there. His journey brings him face to face with members of the Lanier family, and he quickly finds a heart for the people of the area, especially one unlikely girl. I won’t ruin the plot for you, but the story will leave you smiling and wishing there was more to read when you get to the final page.

I love Beth White as a writer. Her characters always have strong convictions and her ability to paint a word picture makes you feel as though you know them. The novel is not a “Christian novel.” It is a novel that has characters who live out their faith. It would be a great book to read and discuss with a non-believing friend. Beth has several other series and books you may want to check out as well.

If you love to read as much as we do, consider joining our Faithful Friends Book Club on Facebook. We read a non-fiction one month followed by a fiction title the next.

 

 

 

 

About Kellie Renfroe

Kellie and her husband Greg have been married 32 years and have four children ranging in age from 17 to 28. She co-founded Mentoring Moments for Christian Women in 2005. Kellie is a homeschooling mom who enjoys reading, studying the Bible, writing, photography, and learning how to cook.

Encouraged? Share this post...

Kellie Renfroe

Kellie and her husband Greg have been married 32 years and have four children ranging in age from 18 to 28. She co-founded Mentoring Moments for Christian Women in 2005. Kellie is a homeschooling mom who enjoys reading, studying the Bible, writing, photography, and learning how to cook.

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